"Only GKN and
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That's the uncompromising view of Mike Thompson, sales director of GKN Axles' Kirkstall Division. With 98% of the European market in the hands of the chassis manufacturers, GKN's export earnings tend to come from further overseas. Home buyers include Foden, Seddon Atkinson and Dennis. Among export customers, ERF export models, Steyr, Freightliner Class 8 models in the US and the whole of the South African market, use GKN equipment. Steer axles with capacities between 4.25 and 20 tonnes are produced at Kirkstall. Production of major safety critical components—steering knuckles and axle beams—is controlled in-house. Apart from assembly, many parts are made in the Kirkstall forges. "The majority are designed with the king-pin bearing at the top for longer life and more positive steering," says Thompson. Kirkstall offers a standard adjustable bearing or a unitised, maintenance-free bearing. As Thompson points out: "Unitised bearings help prevent abuse by taking the wheel and hub off, as the hub retaining nut is inaccessible.
"Air-operated discs are the big thing of the Future," says Thompson—MAN has just followed lveco Ford and Renault down this route—and he Thompson believes that Knorr Bremse has a packaging advantage. Brake actuation at 90 to the wheel makes the complete unit compact and offers respectable swing clearance. Kirkstall will also offer its own brake assemblies or those from
other leading suppliers. Rockwell's air disc brake (RADB), in 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5in versions, should be ready next year: lveco is a likely customer. RADB units allow spring brake chambers to be mounted in a variety of positions, which makes life easier for truck manufacturers.
Rigid drive axle production centres on hub-reduction axles. European tastes favour single reduction axles for road use and most Kirkstall production is used For buses, heavy haulage, off-road applications and military contracts. Steer drive axles offer possibilities For frontwheel-drive low urban delivery vehicles, but, as Thompson says, chassis manufacturers are still conservative. Rockwell has added a new lightweight solo axle, the U177E, to its range of singlereduction drive axles.
This model will eventually replace the popular U1 80E,
Nissan Diesel's Malaysian-built CK450 tractor unit will be fitted with a British-built purpose-designed nine-tonne mid-lift axle thanks to a small Hertfordshire company.
Phoenix Truck and Trailer Equipment of Bishop's Stortford employs only eight people, but claims to be the biggest manufacturer of specialist axles in the country. Its activities include producing 800 drop-centre axles a year. The Nissan export deal was cemented following an approach made by the factory to Phoenix managing director John Davis. Working with local Malaysian businessmen he has set up a joint venture company— Phoenix Malaysia— to look after the contract. Offices are in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Phoenix lists making mid-lifts for Iveco Ford's Eurotech and Dennis's Elite among its other ventures. "Dennis Eagle fits 20 to 25 of our mid-lifts a month, although
I'd be the first to agree that it's not the cheapest product around," says Davis. Phoenix started nine years ago, and Davis, who has many years in the axle industry, has striven hard to make it a success.
Dutch suspension manufacturing specialist Weweler helped with funding in the early days, says Davis. There is no Formal financial link between the two firms but Phoenix Weweler distributes the Dutch maker's suspension systems in the UK.
Davis has fitted tag axles and front airsuspensions to a variety of trucks. "We've even installed full air-suspensions on road sweepers," he says. "Our 4in drop tag axle enables the new generation of lowFrame rigids and tractor units to have adequate axle travel. With a straight axle beam, there is always a danger of the axle striking the chassis. "Most truck manufacturers have to butcher the chassis on the lower Flange severely to make sure they have adequate axle compensation," he explains. "The valve block that we use For raising and lowering is about the size of a 1 lb box of chocolates, and is impervious to chemicals, water, and indeed just about anything."
New products are due for launch this month, and it is likely that Phoenix will move to new premises in the next year, keeping on its existing site for research and development work.
"Anybody can make trailer axles," Davis concludes, but there's one hell of a demand For what we do."